Top 10 PMQs Quotes 2011: Featuring David Cameron, Ed Miliband And An Irate John Bercow

This years PMQs have included some lively exchanges between David Cameron and Ed Miliband (and Cameron and his backbenchers, and David Cameron and Ed Balls' hand gestures).

While the Labour leader sometimes got the upper hand on the details, and the prime minister had to deal with some friendly fire from his own party, the year ended with a clear win for Cameron - and a question mark over Miliband's leadership.

But what were the best PMQs quotes of 2011? Check out our slideshow below for a full round-up.

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Top 10 PMQs Quotes of the Year

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"It now emerges that the Obama deficit reduction programme will go exactly as fast, as quick and as deep as the proposals in the UK, so one of the planks of the good ship Balls has been completely holed below the waterline." - David Cameron, 11 May
A slightly odd turn of phrase but a memorable one nonetheless. Suitably mocking and cutting, David Cameron's put-down to Shadow Chancellor Ed Balls was an attempt to sink Labour's economic policies.

"There is a group of people on this side of the house who want some rebalancing, a group of people who want a lot rebalancing, and a complete mug who doesn't want any rebalancing at all." - David Cameron on Ed Miliband, 26 October
A while later, Cameron get a bit personal with the Labour leader, although labelling someone a "complete mug" is not very becoming of a PM nor is it wit the heights of which not even Oscar Wilde could comprehend. However, the brutality of the put-down, juxtaposed with the blunt use of language was excellent.

"Order. The House needs to simmer down and take whatever tablets are necessary." - John Bercow, 22 June
Adept at putting raucous MPs back in their boxes, in this instance the Speaker belittled the Members just enough to ensure control without going too overboard and annoying everyone. He does still achieves that on a regular basis, however.

"They are all shouting in Unison, or should I say they are all shouting on behalf of Unison." - David Cameron, 30 November
Good puns are worth their weight in gold in PMQs. Ones that raise a hearty chortle from the backbenches are even more valuable. In the midst of the public sector strikes at the end of November, Cameron delivered this jab at the Labour contingent, accusing them of being in the pockets of the unions, much to the slightly exaggerated delight of his own team.

"He now backs the strike, and why? Because he's irresponsible, left-wing and weak." - David Cameron, 30 November
That same afternoon, Cameron's frustration boiled over and he struck out at Miliband again with this barb. Tensions were running high on both sides of the House, the benches hooting and roaring, the Speaker was up and down in his seat trying to shut them all up.
A very dramatic PMQs, Cameron continued to bash Labour for their neither pro nor anti-strike stance while Ed continued the "too much, too soon" line.

"The Minister for Children is under no obligation to behave like a child. It is not required." - John Bercow, 4 May
Tory MP Tim Loughton represents the youngest sector of the population but he was made to look like the precocious child after this slap-down from the Speaker.
It is jibes like these, though, that have seen multiple Tory MPs come to dislike the Speaker's conduct during sessions.

"I'm sure the Honourable Lady is extremely frustrated..." - David Cameron, 7 September
The beginning of a true hash of an answer, David Cameron's apparently unintentional innuendo to begin his response to a question from Tory MP Nadine Dorries sent the majority of the House into fits of laughter.
The PM had another go before he conceded - he instead decided to "give up on this one," amid the ongoing giggles.

"It's not like we're brothers or anything!" - David Cameron, 14 December
The PM has constantly dug at the Miliband brothers for their political rivalry in PMQs. Ed's ascent to the Labour leadership came at the expense of the more experienced and, arguably, more formidable brother, David.
This time, defending the differences in opinion between himself and Nick Clegg, his deputy, Cameron delivered a perfect counter that brought home a convincing win in the final PMQs of the year.
While not a true reaction shot, we assume Ed's above face was his internal reaction, while Harriet Harman's was that of the commentariat in the wake of Ed's dismal performance to finish off the year.

"I think our sympathy is with the deputy prime minister. His partner goes on a business trip, he is left waiting by the phone and he hears nothing until a rambling phone call at 4am confessing to a mistake." - Ed Miliband, 14 December
A cracker of a metaphor from the Labour chief for a number of reasons: A great string of puns knitting into one extended metaphor, firstly. Characterising the DPM as a mere housewife was good and demeaning. Finally, Ed doesn't serve up a lot of supreme gags, so this one really stood out.

"Calm down, dear." - David Cameron to Angela Eagle MP
Cameron was criticised for being "patronising, sexist, insulting and un-prime ministerial" by the Labour Party following this controversial response to Shadow Leader of the Commons Angela Eagle's objections.
While Labour staunchly criticised the PM, they shortly after adopted it as their own catchphrase, who now bait the PM with it as often as they can.
(On a side note, George Osborne's school boy chuckle in the above photo and video was truly fantastic.)